Iran blames 'terrorist attack' on Kurdish separatists

A bombing in Iran Wednesday at a military parade left at least 10 people dead. Iranian officials have accused Kurdish separatists, who it says are backed by the US, for carrying out the 'terrorist attack.'

Al Alam via APTN/AP

Debris litter the street after a bomb blast in Mahabad, Iran, in this image taken from TV, Sept 22.

Tensions in Iran’s restive Kurdish region are likely to escalate after a bombing there Wednesday left at least 10 people dead and dozens wounded. No one has claimed responsibility yet, but officials are calling it a “terrorist attack.” At least one Iranian leader has implied that Kurdish separatists may have been involved, but no official charges have been made.

The bomb detonated in the city of Mahabad during a military parade to showcase the nation’s might. The event was part of Iran’s Sacred Defense Week, a commemoration of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War, and according to Iran’s state media, the blast killed mostly women and children, including a 5-year-old child and the wives of two Iranian military commanders. The bomb was reportedly hidden in a tree near the seating area for high-ranking military officials.

There has been a long-running conflict between Iranian forces and Kurdish guerrillas in the area who conduct regular attacks inside Iran and Turkey. Lately reports have emerged that in recent months Iranian authorities have arrested, tried, and executed Kurdish activists in the area, reports the BBC.

Iran: Attackers backed by US

Iranians have accused the US of backing the Iranian PKK, called the Party for the Free Life of Kurdistan (PEJAK). Following Wednesday’s attack, officials were quick to blame the US, although they did not officially implicate PEJAK.

“As the investigations indicate, the attack has foreign backing. … Unfortunately, the Americans and their allies are in the region. From the first day of their presence and their slogan to establish security in the region, we can see that the unrest has increased,” said Mr. Jalalzadeh in an article by the Los Angeles Times.

A key city for Kurds

The city of Mahabad where the bombing took place is central to Kurds not only in Iran, but to all those spread across Iraq, Turkey, and Syria as well. The largest ethnic group without a country, Kurds have long struggled for autonomy. With Soviet backing in 1946, the Kurd’s established the Kurdish Republic of Mahabad, but Iran reclaimed the territory by 1947.

In addition to PEJAK, there are also several other militant groups in Iran who oppose the government and could have been involved in the attack.

The most active insurgent group in Iran is the Sunni Muslim Jundollah Baluch, which Iranian authorities say has ties to Al Qaeda. In July, the group claimed responsibility for a double suicide bombing that killed 28 people. The group’s leaders said the attack was revenge for the execution of its leaders, reports Reuters.

Share this article

Link copied.

Next up

Here are more stories that look at the news with empathy, insight, and hope.